Machine_of_god

Firstly this series is a keeper, based around a group of teenagers and adults in Newport beach, CA, The O.C has drama, comedy and traditional moral values to merit it. Throughout the series beyond the fights and there have been a few in the series so far, there are tales of love, both unrequited and painful and most importantly stories about truly decent people hidden amongst the pure entertainment and cheap sleaze. Many people are bound to complain that this series does not change the basic rules set by more intelligent teen shows e.g. Dawson's Creek, a prime example of recent shows similar to the O.C. But unlike Dawson's Creek, The O.C is what it is as well as what it isn't.

Basically it offers up pure entertainment, but fair if not a great cast makes this show something other than another 90210 themed FOX Drama. In Particular Adam Brody, who plays lovable Geek Seth, who masters the role perfectly adding humor and warmth. Benjamin Mckenzie is a smart and flawed hero, and remains one of the backbones of the show. It is suprisingly to me that Mischa Barton is only seventeen years old, as she handles her basic role with a lot of heart and warmth, which people seem not to credit her for. Rachel Bilton, the new regular leaves us wanting more of Summer's "ew's" and makes us seek more beyond the basic characteristics of a spoiled California girl. It also has to be said that the adults played by Kelly Rowan, Tate Donovan, Melinda Clarke and Peter Gallagher are as stunning as their younger co-stars. Each character is a shining example of different type of people, and the show introduces us to all of their dilemmas, each likable and each with a heart underneath their actions. Unfortunately people seem not to look at what the show is really saying and focus on it's not saying. As for the actors appearing to be older than the characters they are portraying, this is something you must overlook when watching teen drama, as it is an essential part of the mix, meaning you cannot judge the show for something every show uses.

The O.C has lost some of its shine since the premiere and sometimes seems like the story is progressing too fast for it's own good, but its one of a few flaws that the show has. Previous contributors have deemed the series "amateur hour" but I'm quite in the opposite camp, its a fun show, with underlying morals (the majority of the character merely want to do the right thing in the eyes of the law, society or their families) and given its faster than life story, the dialogue is strangely realistic, with characters own styles instantly coming across in the dialogue. So no the O.C. may not be offering much in terms in originality but what it lacks in freshness it makes up in heart. As a former fan of Dawson's Creek, lets welcome something beyond analytical and over verbalized sentences and settle for simple, well-written teen drama.

I walked into this film with no real knowledge of what the film was abut. The word's "Snuff" and "porn" were thrown at me but i never really investigated what the people meant by that. So... getting to the story A private investigator Tom Wells (Nicholas Cage) is hired by an old widower to investigate whether a recently discovered 8MM "Snuff" film is actually real. Wells watches the film and in trying to prove that the horror he saw is fake and the whole movie follows his investigations to prove the girl Mary Ann Matthews is still alive.

8MM is not a good film... it's story demands that you cannot leave this film without being like the enemies of the state without being slightly effected by it. The Story is an excellent premise but would have worked slightly better if the movie was shot slightly gritty then it is. Joel Schumacher does a great job with it but it still seems a little too Hollywood to pack a real punch (even though the graphicness of the movie- goes against it) The placings are great- you are on an edge from beginning to end and that is where the movie succeeds, you like Tom do not know what to exspect. As for the performances Nicholas Cage is awful in 8MM, so awful in fact that some of the scenes are unwatchable, he just seems so Woodern that any emotions you could feel for the character (until the sentimental last 5 minutes) are gone. On the other hand the supporting cast is great, Catherine Keener tries to make the best of a bad situation and Joaquin Phoenix is absoutely amazing as the porn shop clerk, he brings black comedy as well as real emotion to the role and he steals every scene he is in. Overall 8MM is a gritty movie or as much as it could be with it's limitations of a big screen hollywood movie but it hits the right notes and the character of Tom Wells is very encouraging as it somewhat shows someone doing something wrong but that not all good things are the right thing to do. The direction is thought through, Schumacher has defiently given the supports a lot of work (sadly missing on cage though), The sorroundings are edgy and dark and the movie footage is sick enough to understand the darkness of the movie. Overall a slightly tied up verison of Seven, with slightly better and pointful direction and a script which packs a punch.

The movie is a simple nostagic tale done half a million times before but the acting is so good that it will turn the movie around. Dawsons creek Michelle Williams (the best actress on that show) really does shine here and she is the better out of the two actresses. If you get a chance go see it it is suprisingly very very good